4 research outputs found
Increasing transnational seaâice exchange in a changing Arctic Ocean
The changing Arctic seaâice cover is likely to impact the transâborder exchange of sea ice between the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Arctic nations, affecting the risk of iceârafted contamination. We apply the Lagrangian Ice Tracking System (LITS) to identify seaâice formation events and track sea ice to its melt locations. Most ice (52%) melts within 100âkm of where it is formed; ca. 21% escapes from its EEZ. Thus, most contaminants will be released within an ice parcel's originating EEZ, while material carried by over 1â00,000âkm2 of iceâan area larger than France and Germany combinedâwill be released to other nations' waters. Between the periods 1988â1999 and 2000â2014, seaâice formation increased by âź17% (roughly 6âmillionâkm2 vs. 5âmillionâkm2 annually). Melting peaks earlier; freezeâup begins later; and the central Arctic Ocean is more prominent in both formation and melt in the later period. The total area of ice transported between EEZs increased, while transit times decreased: for example, Russian ice reached melt locations in other nations' EEZs an average of 46% faster while North American ice reached destinations in Eurasian waters an average of 37% faster. Increased transâborder exchange is mainly a result of increased speed (âź14% per decade), allowing firstâyear ice to escape the summer melt front, even as the front extends further north. Increased transâborder exchange over shorter times is bringing the EEZs of the Arctic nations closer together, which should be taken into account in policy developmentâincluding establishment of marineâprotected areas